Huffington Post: Teachers Union Leader Weighs In On Democratic Contenders For President

[Omaha Steve]

X post in OS's Labor Group, Socialist & Progressive, Bernie, and GD.




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/18/nea-2016-election_n_7616232.html

Former Governor Martin O'Malley meets with National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García on Monday. Photo: National Education Association.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/18/nea-2016-election_n_7616232.html

Rebecca Klein Posted: 06/18/2015 8:02 pm EDT

The country's largest teachers union isn't ready to pass judgment on its favorite presidential candidates -- but the process of making contenders work for the union's blessing is well underway.

After meeting with three out of four democratic presidential candidates, Lily Eskelen García, the president of the National Education Association, "absolutely" thinks education issues will play a major role in the upcoming election.


Senator Bernie Sanders meets with National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García on Monday. Photo: National Education Association.


"Because so much of education policy -- more than any other time in our history -- has come from the federal government in the last two administrations, it is going to be a question that’s on the table: what are you going to do to improve teaching and learning?" García told The Huffington Post Thursday after meeting with presidential contenders Martin O'Malley and Bernie Sanders.

García separately interviewed the former Maryland governor and the current Vermont senator Thursday as part of the NEA's endorsement process for the 2016 presidential election. Last week, she interviewed Hillary Clinton. The full videotaped interviews, which will eventually be made available to all NEA members, are supposed to help the organization decide who they should support.

FULL story at link.

[FSogol]

1. This might help them decide, From a NEA 2010 press release:

NEA names Maryland’s Martin O’Malley ‘America’s Greatest Education Governor’
Award presented at NEA’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS - July 05, 2010 -
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley received the America’s Greatest Education Governor Award from the National Education Association (NEA) today during the NEA’s Representative Assembly in New Orleans. The prestigious award is presented each year to a governor who has made major, statewide efforts to improve public education.

“Governor O’Malley took office in 2007, just months before the nation plunged into a deep recession,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “Despite the economic devastation to his state, he kept his eye on the big picture—he understands that the recipe for economic recovery and success means preparing Maryland’s young people for the challenges of the 21st century.

“Governor O’Malley is a strong advocate for public education,” Van Roekel added. “He has made great strides in increasing school funding, expanding school programs, and taking the needs of the whole child into account in education policy decisions. O’Malley listens to parents, educators and community members when making policy decisions that affect Maryland’s public schools. He continues to be a champion of public education and truly believes, as we do, that education will lead to a brighter and better future for all of us.

“Lots of governors like to think of themselves as education governors, but Governor O’Malley has really earned that accolade.”

More at: http://www.nea.org/home/40032.htm

[elleng]

5. Sure might!

[FSogol]

2. PS, Thanks for posting this here, OS. n/t

[askew]

3. O'Malley should get the NEA endorsement. He has the actual track record

of delivering on progressive education policy. But, Hillary is going to get all of these big endorsements. She has relationships with all the major labor leaders. They think she is inevitable and don't want to be left out when she wins.

[FSogol]

4. TheY won't make an endorsement until January, same as the labor unions. n/t

Last edited Fri Jun 19, 2015, 03:52 PM - Edit history (1)